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Monash graphic designer re-elected to international post

26 October 2005

Mr Russell Kennedy, senior lecturer in visual communication in Monash's Art and Design faculty, has been elected vice-president of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) for a second term.

Mr Kennedy (pictured), who has a background in graphic design and filmmaking, is one of only two Australians to have served on the Icograda board. The organisation is the peak world body for graphic design and visual communication.

The election of board members by secret ballot took place during Icograda's biennial general assembly, held last month in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Mr Kennedy has held the vice-presidential post since 2003 and has been active in the development of the Icograda Education Network and the deployment and promotion of worldwide educational exchange initiatives.

He has been instrumental in boosting membership of the education network -- some 71 schools in 28 countries are now members, up from 42 in 2003. Monash is one of five Australian educational institutions involved in the network.

Mr Kennedy said he was delighted to be continuing his board role. "This is quite an honour," he said. "The board is comprised of members from around the globe, and it's great that Monash has a presence in the global design community.

"The Art and Design faculty has benefited enormously from its association with Icograda. It has opened up opportunities with the designer-in-residence program, attracting internationally renowned graphic designers such as Professor Don Ryun Chang from South Korea's Hongik University in August and US graphic designer Stuart Alden in 2004."

One initiative that has emerged from Mr Kennedy's Icograda links was the 'Creative Waves' online student design project, conducted in May by Mr Vince Dziekan, digital imaging course coordinator in Monash's Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts, and Mr Rick Bennett, founder of the Omnium Project (Australia) at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales.

The project, endorsed by Icograda, involved graphic design, photomedia and visual communication students from 22 countries, including four third-year design students from Monash's Caulfield campus.